Hey guys! The new chapter is out now ^^ I hope you like it ^^ I'll look forward to your reviews ^^ Sorry for the typing mistakes but they just happen.
I just can't understand the hearts of men
they tell you they want you and then they leave you
this is the first time; you're special
I believed those words and I was so happy…
"Because I'm a girl" by Kiss
Sai and Sakura.
Sasuke's mouth snapped open and he gasped for air.
Naruto grinned widely and burst out in happy exclamations, immediately rushing towards his comrades.
Kakashi just stood there. Nothing in his expression changed. It was as blank as before. He turned his look to the guards and waved for goodbye.
"I'm going to inform Tsunade-sama.", his voice was indifferent.
The Copy nin disappeared in an instant, leaving only a dispersing smoke. Izumo and Kotetsu looked at each other uncomprehending and confused.
Sasuke couldn't believe that Sakura was only a few meters away from him. He dreamt about her for six months. Not a single night has passed without her image to burn his mind. The black-haired boy thought he was losing his mind. Sakura has become his obsession. Sasuke was addicted to her smile, laugh; her endless liveliness. He was absolutely positive that over the years she has become his own drug.
The shinobi closed his open mouth and tried to put his thoughts at peace. He should go and greet her properly. Later on he'll make sure that he'll express his genuine gratitude to Sai. Sasuke walked towards them. The more he drew closer, the more he seemed to realize that something was wrong. He saw Naruto's smile fading away. At the next moment Sai fell on the ground with Sakura still in his hands. Sasuke rushed to them.
"What happened?", the Uchiha successor sounded worried. His voice was wavering under the tension.
"Sai...His skin is purple-blue..And Sakura-chan...She…She's barely breathing...", Naruto was petrified. His big sapphire eyes were abnormally widened and the pupils were moving chaotically.
"Sai's not blue, you idiot... He's just frostbitten. Help me to put him on my back. Be careful his bones and skin are easily damaged.", Sasuke ordered.
Naruto silently obeyed. His eyes were still nailed on the lifeless body of Sakura.
"Hurry! Take Sakura... We'll carry them to the hospital."
Naruto just kneeled to the pinkie's body. His mind was still lagging from the shock.
"Move your ass, sissy!"
The blond boy jumped as if he was waking up from a nightmare. He picked up Sakura and looked at her pale face. "She's become lighter...". Then he shot Sasuke a determined bloody look.
They ran as fast as they could. The medical back-up team led by the Hokage herself, intercepted with them on the half of their way to the hospital. The medics put Sakura and Sai on stretches. Tsunade gave a quick look at their condition.
"Sai's gonna be ok, but I can't say the same for Sakura... I detect the signs of intoxication. Her vital functions are almost missing. I must start extracting the poison right away. Take them to hospital. Shizune!"
"Yes, Tsunade-sama?"
"You'll be managing the treatment of Sai. Be aware that he is suffering acute hypothermia. Do your best!", the blond woman was almost on the verge of her wit, but as the Hokage, she couldn't allow herself to be controlled by emotions.
Tsunade completely realized that Sakura's chance to survive was negligible. She was also aware that Kakashi knew it himself. But when he came to inform her about their arrival, his eye didn't even wince, his voice was clear and stable. The Copy Nin was in complete control of his feelings. But this lame staging couldn't fool the caramel-eyed woman who was standing behind the desk...
Next few hours were painful, hard and long, too long. It was difficult for everyone to keep their cool. The news that Sai brought Sakura back alive spread quickly. Of course nobody mentioned the condition he brought her back. Everybody in Konoha was celebrating the return of the Hokage's apprentice. Everybody except one...
Kakashi was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the turned off TV. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the old-fashioned dusty clock on his night table. Kakashi tried to empty his mind. But counting the seconds wasn't as helpful as he thought it would be.
"986...987...988...989...990..."
"Is she ok?.."
"992...993...994...995..."
"Her chakra was weak and shaky..."
"996...997...998..."
"Maybe she's dying..."
"999...1000..."
"I should go and see how is she..."
"1001..."
"No, I'd better not... Hokage will definitely save her..."
"There's nothing I can do..."
The Copy nin sprawled on the bed and gazed at the ceiling for a minute.
"I'll go check up on Sai... I hope they're in the same room."
He got up from the bed and walked out of the room.
"Next!", Tsunade shouted and the nurse handed another bowl filled with a light green liquid. The blond woman immediately dunked her hand in it. She inserted a small amount of chakra and soon the liquid converted to a balloon around her hand.
The Hokage pressed it to the wound on her shoulder and started transfusing the solution in her body. She put her other hand over her chest. Sakura didn't have other flesh wounds so Tsunade was forced to cut her, so that she could extract the poison. After few seconds she sucked out the fluid from the new cut. Quickly she splashed it in the empty bowl. Now there were easily seen flowing dark teal stains.
"Next!", the blond woman shouted again.
Usually this procedure was extremely painful but Sakura didn't even move a muscle. Tsunade was working hard. She's been in the emergency room for over three hours. The venom wasn't complex but the preparing of the antidote required some time. And this was the only thing she didn't have. The Hokage sent Shizune to prepare it. She was the best specialist in poisons after Sakura and herself. Meanwhile Tsunade had to take immediate action to extract most of the venom from Sakura's system.
The door opened and Shizune rushed inside, holding a cuvette filled with warm orange solution.
"It's ready." , she was panting.
Tsunade grabbed it hastily and leaned over Sakura. The nurse lifted gently the pink-haired girl's head and the Hokage poured the liquid in her mouth, forcing her to gulp it. The caramel-eyed woman sighed and stretched her stiff muscles.
"Now we just have to wait. If she doesn't wake up in the next twenty-four hours, she probably never will.", Tsunade shot the pinkie an affectionate glance, "Shizune, you'll take over her treatment from now on; give her a light antibiotic to lower her temperature. I'm going to check up on Sai."
"Um,… Tsunade-sama. You probably should go later. He's sleeping now.", the brown-haired woman sounded unsure.
"Yeah, you're right… I'll be in my office. If there's any change call me immediately.", the blonde walked out of the room.
"Ok, move her in the ICU.", Shizune let out the breath she was holding.
"Sai... did you see her kidnappers?, Naruto's voice was pumped up from excitement, "Were they strong?"
Sai shook his head, "I managed to slip by without being noticed by them, except for the guards."
"Did she remember?", that was the first thing that Sasuke said since they entered the hospital. His eyes were still staring through the window.
"Her wounded wrists were already healed. I noticed only the scars. I think part of her memory has returned. She recognized me.", the boys could detect the scent of happiness in his voice. They couldn't blame him. They were all happy.
"Do you think she'll remember us as well?", Naruto asked enthusiastically.
"I deeply hope so.", Sai sighed and pulled his blanked up, "By the way... Where is Kakashi-san?"
"I don't know. We were waiting you at the gates when you two showed up and then he just disappeared. Maybe he's with Sakura.", Naruto looked at Sasuke quizzically when the black-haired boy snorted out.
"No. He's not with her. Probably he's just eavesdropping at out door... Right, Kakashi-sensei?", Sasuke raised his voice and smirked.
The door opened and the Copy Nin entered the room. He took off his mask – there was no point in hiding in front of them anymore.
"Yo.", his line was accompanied by an eye crease, "I've been caught up."
"That's low, sensei! Too low even for you...", Naruto was shaking his head; he sounded disappointed.
"I bet he was just hoping to hear something about Sakura's condition, without personally checking up on her... You yellow dog...", Sasuke grinned.
"Chicken...", Sai murmured under his breath.
"Now, now, guys. Don't be so hard on me...", Kakashi was smiling weirdly, scratching behind his neck, "So, what'cha doin', boys?, he tried to sound as natural as possible.
"Gossiping about Sakura...", Sasuke grinned.
"Her hair grew long... I like it that way.", Naruto pointed out.
"It makes her younger, almost childish... I loved her shoulder-length hair...when she cut it during the chunin exam, while she was protecting us.", Sasuke sounded exited. The other three shinobi in the room looked him as if he was an old pervert with a hair-fetish, "I hope she cut it again.", the Uchiha finished.
"I hope not. I like the silky feeling it gives me when I run my fingers through it.", the words slipped through Kakashi's mouth. He closed his open mouth and cleared his throat, "Anyway, how is she?".
An awkward silence conquered the room.
Few minutes later Sasuke stood up and looked again through the window. With his back towards the others he uttered the information they had.
"She might not make it though the night. Her condition is critical. Half an hour ago they prepared the antidote. Tsunade-sama said that if she doesn't wake in the next twenty-four hours, she'll probably never will...", the Uchiha successor's voice trembled and they saw him lifting his hand to his face.
Nobody said anything.
"Kakashi-sensei... It's not the time to play games. I have no idea what's in your head. I don't even want to know it because I'll suffer a permanent collapse of my nervous system or something like that. But the thing I know is that there's no pride in love. And as shinobi we might not live another day to reveal our true feelings to that person. Keep that in mind...", Naruto's voice was filled with sadness.
"It's none of your business. When you live through what I lived and when you lose everybody you loved like I did, then you'll get the chance to lecture me!", his voice was on the verge of breaking. The boys knew that they crossed the line. The three of them bowed their heads, "More over... How did you managed to get the information about her condition?", Kakashi was back to his usual self.
"Naruto sneaked one of his toads in the operating room. It was Sasuke's idea.", Sai grinned.
"Tsunade was there. She'd probably notice the jumping little froggy on the floor.", Kakashi looked at them inquiringly.
"We put it in Shizune's pocket... It was Naruto's idea.", Sai grinned again.
"Oh boy... You are so dead if the Hokage finds out...".
"Those who break the rules are scum...", Sasuke started.
"...but those who doesn't care for their friends...", Naruto continued.
"...are worse than scum.", Sai finished.
The boys were grinning widely. Kakashi's eye popped out for a second but then he smirked as well.
"On the other hand... I can not ignore your ingenuity. Good job...", Kakashi grinned. This smile was the first real smile he put on his face since he came back in Konoha. The man silenced and pricked up his ears, "I suggest you get out of here, because the Hokage is coming. Through the window. She's already walking at the hall. Fifteen seconds..."
"See ya, Sai!", they whispered.
Naruto and Sasuke flung out of the room in the moment when the door handle creaked, leaving only the waving curtains behind.
Tsunade entered the room and looked suspiciously around only to find Kakashi leaning on the railing of the open window.
"Hm...Strange. I was sure I felt Naruto and Sasuke's chakra here few moments ago."
"It's been only me and Sai here for about forty minutes already.", Kakashi sounded as innocent as possible.
Sai only nodded and pulled his blanked up.
Tsunade shot at them warning look, telling:"You know what is waiting for you if you lie to me, right?". The blonde sat on the bed next to Sai's and crossed her hands in front of her.
"I'm listening... I want all the details.", her voice suffered no contradictions.
"But firstly, I'd like to ask for a little cooperation from Kakashi-san.", Sai looked at him.
"Danzo's involved in this right?", the Copy nin growled out in frustration.
The raven boy only nodded.
Tsunade frowned and knitted her brows, "Begin."
The next day...
Sasuke was sitting in the chair next to Sakura's bed. Last night he and Naruto were taking turns to watch over the pink-haired kunoichi. The Uchiha boy was propping his chin with his hands. His dark eyes were continually fixed on Sakura's face. Her temperature was still high and the infection in her shoulder wasn't getting any better as well. Sasuke frowned and knitted his brows. There's been almost twenty hours since Tsunade gave her the antidote. The boy pulled his chair closer to her bed and he bowed his head to hers.
"You'd better wake up soon and you'd better recognize me, 'cuz I swear I'll kick your cute little ass till you remember..." , he was gently whispering at her ear. Sasuke reached his hand and caressed her warm cheek, "Everybody's waiting you, dummy. Don't disappoint them."
Sasuke placed his head on her chest and grabbed her hand. This small jumping heart in her bosom was enough to make him feel relaxed. He tried to imagine what he would feel if this sound disappeared forever. The boy shut his eyes even more tightly and buried his nose in the blanket that was covering her.
#
Sakura's consciousness blurred. And her eyelids trembled but Sasuke didn't see it. The kunoichi was dreaming. Scrambled images took over her mind. She saw herself as a little girl. Her image nine years ago a lot resembled as her look nowadays. Her long hair, her naive green eyes and her trusting heart. The pinkie remembered her graduation exam at the academy. She remembered how Naruto failed it and how foolish she was to like Sasuke just because he was strong and "cool". The kunoichi recalled the day when the announcement of the new teams was made. Team seven. They were the last one in the classroom waiting for their teacher. At last when he arrived she saw a silver-haired man entering the room. Of course that memory walked hand in hand with the prank that Naruto pulled on him. Kakashi had been different those days. More distant, more like a heartless shinobi than a teacher. But nevertheless his three students loved him.
Day by day, week by week, month by month, time passed and she witnessed the development of her male teammates but she..she was still the same.
The chunin exam. Then that faithful night when Sasuke left and refused to take her with him. The day when Naruto left with Jiraiya to train. The three years she spent training under Tsunade-sama; the three years she spent in solitude – no Sasuke, no Naruto, no Kakashi.
Every memory was coming to place, slowly but surely.
She remembered how Sasuke returned to the village worn out, bleeding and almost dead after his fight with Itachi. Sakura recalled her preparations for the Junín exam. She was tutored by Kakashi once again. He was still merciless teacher but somehow he looked at her with different eyes. To her greatest surprise Kakashi was one of her examiners. She remembered that warm feeling that memory gave her. Her heart was beating fast. So, she's been loving him for that long... A silent tear escaped under her eyelashes rolling down on her cheek.
The pink-haired girl recalled the party Naruto and Sasuke set up when she was promoted to Jonin rank. Everybody was there. Including Kakashi. Sakura had drunk more than enough. And when she decided to go and confess to Kakashi she saw him leaving with another girl, holding her hand. Sakura remembered how everything began moving on slow motion. The images bleached and turned into black and white old photographs. Then Sasuke came to her and comforted her. Unknowingly, they were in her apartment...
Sakura's lids jerked when the colorful pictures from that night passed through her mind. The shame, the pain, followed by the guilt afterwards. It was nothing compared with the experience she had with Kakashi that morning few weeks ago.
Few final images settled in her head...
#
The door opened quietly. A familiar hand squeezed Sasuke's shoulders and then wrapped around them. The Uchiha boy didn't even move a muscle. Silently a blond-haired boy with teary blue eyes and trembling whiskers on the face joined him and kneeled next to the Sakura's bed. Naruto rested his head on it and sniffed.
There was no use in talking. No words could describe the sorrow they felt.
Few more hours passed...
#
Sakura slowly opened her eyes feeling something heavy resting on her chest and on her hand. She looked down just to see Sasuke sleeping on her breasts and Naruto placed his cheek on her palm, sleeping as well. The kunoichi rose up a little and reached for the bed lever to lift the pillow so she could sit in the bed. Carefully she moved Sasuke's head in her lap and Naruto's on her legs. The girl smiled softly at them and sighed. She didn't want to wake them up. The pinkie wanted to enjoy this blissful moment as long as she could.
She waited for that moment to come for nearly almost seven months. Seven long months filled with fear, anger and solitude. Tears fell from her eyes and dropped in Sasuke's hair...
#
Shizune opened the door and her eyes popped out. Quietly she walked back and hurried to the Tsunade's office.
"Tsunade-sama.", her heart was pumping fast.
"Yes?", the Hokage sounded tired and preoccupied.
"I think you should see this for yourself.", Shizune grabbed the hand of Tsunade and pulled her to stand up from her chair.
"Ok, ok! I'll come. Stop pulling me.", The Hokage smiled secretly. There was only one reason for Shizune to be that enthusiastic.
When Tsunade opened the door quietly a soft, warm wide smile spread on her face. In front of her Sakura was sitting in her bed watching the sleeping boys next to her. Her eyes rose up and she grinned at her visitors.
The Hokage opened her mouth to say something but the "hush" sign that Sakura made stopped her.
"Let me do it", the blonde woman could read the words on her lips.
Sakura patted Sasuke's head, "Wake up!", she gently said as she reached to caress Naruto's cheek. The boys stirred a little and then slowly they both opened their eyes.
Naruto was the first one to realize what happened. His expression immediately became brighter and lively. The blonde brushed off his teary traces from his eyes and laughed, don't knowing what to do. Sasuke was just standing there, staring at her when he suddenly threw himself on Sakura, hugging her tightly.
"You're awake...", his voice was weak and trembling. The boy swung her with his arms still around her shoulders, "You're awake...".
"I guess I am.", the pinkie tried to escape the embrace but as she found out, it was impossible, "Sasuke, are you sure that you are not the one with the amnesia.", she teased him.
The Uchiha released the clutch and shot her surprised look, "You recognize me ...".
"I can't forget your arrogant face even if I wanted to, stuuupid.", the girl laughed, "And I like it that way.", her smile became softer. Sasuke blushed and looked away.
"Get the fuck away from her. I want my turn of hugging her.", Naruto grunted out as he was trying to push away Sasuke and the quarrel quickly turned into a small fight.
"Out of here! Both of you!", the voice of the Hokage was strong enough the put an end to the dispute. The two shinobi shared electrifying glance at each other and walked out of the room. But on the doorstep Naruto turned around and grinned at Sakura.
"I'll be back..."
The pink-haired kunoichi smiled and shook her head unbelievingly. The girl looked at Tsunade.
"How are you feeling, Sakura?", her voice was trembling. It was obvious that she was barely controlling her emotions.
"I feel weak as if I don't have any power in my body. But generally I'm fine. I think my fever has gone down. And the infection in my shoulder has diminished. I think I still suffer the after-effect of the poisoning. The toxin has been in my body for too long.", Sakura clenched her fists to try her strength.
"I didn't mean your physical condition, Sakura. I'm a medic as well and I can tell those things. I want to know what's going on in your head.", Tsunade smiled. She knew that there were a lot of thing Sakura didn't want to share with her but everything she needed was a sign that she's ok or that she'll be better soon.
"I recalled all my memories. So I guess everything is fine. But I'd like you to summarize me on the recent events in Konoha during the last seven months. After I get out of the hospital I will return to my regular work as medic and a shinobi."
"Don't rush.", Tsunade smiled softly, "I'll send Shizune to check up on you later, so the two of you can gossip a little and she'll help you to catch up with everything in here. But for now... Naruto, Sasuke... you can come in.", the blonde raised her voice.
The door opened and the two boys tiptoed in the room, scratching behind their necks.
"Don't excite her too much. She needs rest.", Tsunade said as she closed the door behind.
Naruto sat on her left side on the bed and Sasuke did the same on her right side.
"Sakura-chan...", the blonde talked first, his voice was unsure. His blue eyes were glittering.
"Naruto..", Sakura smiled softly and caressed his cheek, "There's no need to worry. Everything is like before. Nothing's changed."
"But you forgot us...", he was mumbling. Sasuke looked down at the floor.
"I never forgot anyone. That time I had some worries over my head. Events that I didn't want to happen. I wished to forget them... I guess my wish came true."
"Will you tell us, Sakura-chan?", Naruto drew closer to her and eased his back on her pillow when she moved little aside to make room for him.
"Someday, I think... when everything is in the past..", the girl smiled at the empty space before her.
"Sakura... what was the life out there?", Sasuke raised his eyes and met hers.
"Life? It's as hard as it's ours with only one difference. We can change things, we can fight for what we believe, but the poor ordinary people just have to accept the defeat...being helpless and weak... it's awful. I hated every second in which I just stood there and watched how innocent defenseless people were getting hurt or even killed for nothing... we, shinobi, would do anything for money but the poor people out there, would give anything to have just few crumbs on their table, even if it meant their life.", Sakura's voice trembled.
"So if you could choose all over again..."
"...I'd choose the shinobi life again.", she smiled sadly.
The door opened once again and Sai entered cautiously. He was wearing hospital clothes.
"Sai..Are you ok?", Sakura tried to stand up but Naruto and Sasuke caught her and pushed her on the pillow again. She shot them a vicious look.
"I should be asking you that? You scared us, Sakura!", he scratched his cheek and blushed.
Naruto and Sasuke shared surprised glance, "Since when exactly did he drop the honorific..?"
"I'm fine, Sai.", she smiled gently, "Come! Join us! We haven't been all together like that for such a long time..."
The raven boy sat on Naruto's previous place, on her bed's right side and sighed relieved.
The four of them talked, laughed, and shared memories and old events for hours. Shizune tried to scare them away few times but every time Naruto looked at her with his teary puppy blue eyes, so eventually she gave up. Sakura felt that the emptiness in her heart was almost healed. Only one piece was missing. And she knew who was holding it.
Kakashi didn't visit her. When she asked about him, the boys just shrugged their shoulders and changed the subject. Sakura decided to think about him later. For now she wanted to enjoy these moments and engrave them in her memory so that she'll always carry them in her heart...
The silence was filling the room. Ataeru was supporting his head on his palms, looking at the table. His father stood by the window quietly. The knocked out by Sai, guards were staring at the floor ashamed. With one fast and strong blow Nusumi grabbed their throats and gummed them up to the wall. The poor men could only shake their feet.
"You're useless... We let you take care of one single injured girl for about fifteen minutes and she escapes..."
"But there was ...", one of them tried to excuse himself.
"Shut the fuck up! Who allowed you to speak you imbecile mucky cock-roach?", Kibo clenched his fingers and they sank into the man's throat, pouring Nusumi's hands with blood. The man fell on the floor dead and around his head a small puddle formed from the blood that was flowing out of his throat. The other one of the guardians only gave a weak sob and closed his eyes, praying.
"Oh, God...", the caught man mumbled with his body shaking in fear.
"You're disgusting...", Kibo frowned, "If I knew I have pussies for helpers I'd just had left her go by herself! You should have died trying to stop them. That was your job!", the older man was yelling at his face.
Ataeru didn't even notice the dispute which was played before him. He was confused. His heart was crying that their hope for bringing back Karu had vanished along with Sakura, but other part of his soul was celebrating Sakura's escape. He hated the fact that they had to use such a cute innocent and gentle girl as an exchange coin.
Kibo Nusumi fell down on a chair heavily. He had no idea what will happen to his precious Karu now. She and Ataeru were his only lights in the dark world he was living in, since his wife was killed.
"I'll go to Konoha.", Ataeru's voice was weak but determined, "I'll explain everything to Sakura and to the Hokage."
"Are you nuts? Tsunade will kill you on the spot when she figures out that you are one of the people who kidnapped Sakura!", his father shot him a irreligious look.
"I'm going and you cannot stop me.", Ataeru stood up and walked out of the room to pack his bag.
The surviving guardian was still standing stuck to the wall, holding his breath. When Kibo followed his son the scared man fell on the floor clutching his heart with his arm, trying to catch his breath.
Sakura slowly escaped her sleep and her eyelids trembled as she distinguished the light coming from outside the window. She slowly opened hey eyes and frowned. The sun was shining brightly. The pink-haired girl rose and sat on the bed. She looked at the digital clock
"Oh my...", the numbers showed nine thirty, "I've been asleep for almost day and a half", the girl murmured under her breath.
Naruto and the others left early in the morning after they talked for about ten or twelve hours. Maybe they could have talked even more if Tsunade hadn't showed up in her nightwear to scare them away. Sakura smiled to herself. She stretched her body - the pain was almost gone but she felt little dizzy from the movement. The kunoichi slowly got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. It's been almost two weeks since she last saw herself in a mirror.
"Holy shit...", Sakura shouted scared, "I look like a zombie...", the pinkie tried to comb her hair by running her fingers through it. The long pink locks just got even more messed up. She sent a silent curse towards her hair, "I need to cut her.."
Sakura looked around in attempt to find scissors or a knife. She spotted a kunai left on her night table. Maybe Naruto forgot one of his when he was peeling apples for her. The girl went there and reached he hand to grab it when suddenly another hand covered hers. Its skin that was showing under the fingerless gloves was tanned and rough. The metal protector on them was scratched and riddled.
"Don't even think about it...", Kakashi growled through his teeth. His voice was filled with anger but still she could feel the hidden gentle thread in it.
Sakura raised her puzzled eyes to meet his. She shot him an arrogant look.
"I'll do whatever I want...", she saw how his eye trembled at her words, "Since you didn't even come to visit me, you've lost any right to mess with my decisions and even less with my hair, Sensei!", Sakura regretted saying those words as soon as she had spoken them.
Kakashi moved his hand away and fisted it. He turned his back and walked to the door.
"Wait, Kakashi!", Sakura yelled after him; her voice has softened, "I'm sorry. Don't leave so soon. You just came."
The silver-haired man didn't turn around to her. He was still facing the door.
"I didn't have any intention of coming here in the first place. But Naruto came to my apartment and forced me with some crap that it was my responsibility to check up on my student and all. But as I can see you are better now so I am done here.", he began walking towards the door again.
"What about...us..?", her voice was weak and unsure.
"Us? There is no "us". It was you and me, never us. It's always been like that.", he turned his head and gave her an eye crease.
Sakura popped out her eyes uncomprehending. Her body trembled and she fell down on the bed heavily. Her green dazzling eyes were nailed on his smiling face.
"So everything that happened...", her voice came out as a light breath.
"Oh, don't be a child, Sakura. I'm a man and you are a woman. We wanted something from each other and we took it. End of story.", his voice was carefree.
"There is no way he can pretend that good...", Sakura thought, holding her breath.
"You lied to me... Everything you said was a lie...", the pink-haired kunoichi let out her breath, "Damn! I was worried! Ha-ha!", she laughed running her fingers through her hair once again, "I thought that you'd want us to be together or something like that and I wasn't sure how to brush you off. After all you saved my life twice. Ha-ha!"
Kakashi's face didn't change its expression, "So we're good?"
"Ha-ha! Of course, we're good!", she sounded relieved.
"Then, I'm off...", he said before disappearing in a fog of smoke.
Sakura waved for goodbye at the empty space before her. She reached for the kunai on the night table, still grinning. The metallic blade glittered in her hand. The kunoichi grabbed her hair, laughing to herself. With one strong swing she cut it. The pink hair locks were falling down, scattering in mid-air as the wind coming from the window broke them apart. They landed on the tiles, dispersed and lonely. Sakura laughed again and sighed. Her hair now was reaching little under her shoulders. The pinkie shivered and her eyes filled with tears.
"Ha-ha..", the kunoichi laughed one more time, her lips were trembling. She fell on the floor and burst into tears. Her hands were holding the place where her heart used to be. She was pressing her palms to her chest, trying to put out the pain that was burning inside. It was a lie. Lie. Lie. Her tears wouldn't stop falling. Her body was curled in a ball. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her soul. The air in the room wasn't enough for her. She was suffocating. Sakura bit her forearm, trying to distract herself from the ache in her heart. But it didn't help. She bit harder; the girl could feel the taste of her own blood. Rust and salt. Just like the love she felt for Kakashi. That love was too old and too salty.
She's been hurt like that before. But at that time she was a little girl and she swallowed her pride, chasing after Sasuke. But now everything was different. She'll never run after Kakashi, begging him to love her. It will tear her apart from the inside every time she looks at him but the smile won't leave her lips. She'll be bleeding every time she sees him because his fucking eye crinkle will be fumbling her open wounded heart but she'll survive.
Her thoughts were reassuring but she had no idea why the tears just wouldn't stop flowing. The pain wasn't getting any weaker. It wasn't fading away. Sakura was sobbing on the floor, her eyes were red from all the crying, there was a small puddle of blood around her arm. She has bitten herself so hard that her teeth had ruptured an artery. The kunoichi didn't care. She was just lying on the tile floor, staring at the empty space before her.
Ten minutes passed by, than another ten and then another... she lost track of time... the only thing she wanted to do now was to try not to die.
The door opened. Sasuke followed by Shizune entered the hospital room. They were talking lively about something that happened few minutes ago. When the Uchiha boy walked in, his voice hitched and he rushed to the place where Sakura was lying. Her eyes were open, tears were flowing out but she wasn't making a sound. Her clothes were covered in blood and hair. Sasuke grabbed her and put her on the bed.
"Sakura...", his voice was puzzled, "What happened?"
"Move aside..!", Shizune rushed after him. The woman grabbed her arm and looked closely at it, "There are teeth marks. She's bitten herself.", a green light started glowing out of her hands.
"Sakura, speak, say something... Who did this to you?", Sasuke sat on the other side of the bed, caressing her hair.
"She did it to herself, idiot!", Shizune was furious. The wound on the arm has closed but her condition hasn't changed. Sakura was lying on the bed lifelessly. The only difference she had from a corpse was her slow irregular pulse.
"I want to know who made her to do this to herself! She was completely fine yesterday. Something happened...", he snapped at the young woman's face. Sasuke looked gently at Sakura. Her open eyes were creeping him out, "Sakura, sweetie, do you hear me? Tell me who did this to you?"
"Lie... Everything ... a lie... lied to me.", Sakura mumbled under her breath. The words were difficult to understand. Her tears started flowing again.
"I'm going to call Tsunade-sama. Stay with her.", Shizune flew out of the room.
"Who lied to you, Sakura?", Sasuke sat next to her on the bed and eased his back on the pillow. He put his arm around her shoulders. Sakura sobbed and cuddled in him, burying her face into his abdomen, "Shh, I'm here..."
After a few minutes Tsunade rushed into the room. Sasuke stood up and kneeled on the floor to make some space for the Hokage to check her.
"Physically she's good. Still recovering but good. That's not the reason for her condition.", her eyes were puzzled, "Who was the last person that's been in the room?"
"I think me, Naruto and Sai... We left after she fell asleep.", Sasuke answered immediately.
Tsunade sighed. She knew that something like that was going to happen. But now of all times? The pink-haired girl was still recovering. She didn't need any disruptions right now.
"... lied to me... ", Sakura's voice was weak and Sasuke had to bow his head to her lips so he could hear her, "..kashi..lied...me", the Uchiha boy didn't hear clearly the last words she said but somehow everything stood in its place.
"I'll kill him...", Sasuke growled through his teeth. His sinister chakra burst out instantly, the cursed seal activated and took him over as he awakened its second stage. The boy flew out of the window before Tsunade could even react to what just happened.
TBC
